Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

JAILER

in The Most Virtuous and Godly Susanna — Garter, Thomas

Metadata

PlayThe Most Virtuous and Godly Susanna
AuthorGarter, Thomas
Year (catalogued)1578
First performance1569
Decade1570s
GenreMoral
Play typeInterlude
Speech prefix(es)Bayly. | [Jailer]
Words250
Characters1235
Typicality0.36 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA01509
BritDrama no.367
ClusterCluster 15 — Devils, vices & grotesques

Important excerpts

Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 15 (ang, hunc, fleire, shillings, chil, sblood…). Matches are highlighted.

¶Voluptas and Sensualitas, hold up your hands. ¶And yet one to much alive by Thee. ¶Why fool knowest thou not yet, that nature will teach, Thee when thou goest to hanging how thou shouldst preach.

Full speech

¶Yea my Lord. ¶Ill Report make and Oh yes here. ¶Oh yes. All manner creatures, That have human features, And dwell within this Land, Come in and disclose, What you hear and suppose, By this woman Susan, And what you can tell, Shall now be herd well; As reason it is, Your work shall be good, In saving her blood, If she did not amiss, But if she be guilty, Then is it necessity, That she die for her sin, Then what you can say, Let us know straight way, For the Court does begin. ¶Nay then let me come and help, For though my tongue be ill and I cannot use talking, Yet I love to be where fists are walking. ¶No not yet sir, but I will by and by. ¶What Ill Report how do you? ¶I come to seek a Knave I think it be you. ¶Why you shitten Knave, what is that to you, ¶The cause why I come hither now, is my masters will to done And to tell Thee that Susanna shall be here arraigned soon. ¶We need not since we are here ready. ¶I will my Lord. Come on fair Lady you here your self, what I am bid to do. ¶Is Mustard good for sick folks relief? ¶Voluptas and Sensualitas, hold up your hands. ¶And yet one to much alive by Thee. ¶Why fool knowest thou not yet, that nature will teach, Thee when thou goest to hanging how thou shouldst preach.

Plot summary

Plot — The Most Virtuous and Godly Susanna
Satan commissions Ill Report to bring about the downfall of Susanna, a paragon of virtue. Since pride, gluttony, envy, sloth, and covetousness have failed to achieve this, Ill Report decides to use lust. He selects the elders Voluptas and Sensualitas as his instruments of temptation, and they are tempted in turn when they see Susanna. Susanna’s husband Joachim leaves to inspect his realm, leaving the elders to administer justice in his absence. The elders spy on Susanna as she bathes in her orchard after dinner, and proposition her for sex. When she refuses, they slander her with whoredom. Meanwhile Joachim discovers that the elders are corrupt and hated by the people. The elders’ perjured testimony ensures that Susanna is sentenced to death, but God intervenes, sending Daniel to reveal the truth. The elders are stoned, and die penitent. Ill Report is hanged, and a frustrated Satan arrives to carry him to hell and tormenters for his failure. Susanna and her family count their blessings.